Santana gives up slam, Braves fall to Brewers 6-1

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Ervin Santana (30) works in the first inning of a baseball game against Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, May 21, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The Associated Press

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Ervin Santana (30) works in the first inning of a baseball game against Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, May 21, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Ervin Santana (30) works in the first inning of a baseball game against Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, May 21, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (The Associated Press)

CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — Following a dominant opening month, Ervin Santana has found trouble in May.

The low point was allowing the first grand slam of his career.

Santana suffered his second straight ugly loss and the Atlanta Braves' modest three-game winning streak ended with a 6-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

Santana, 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA in April, has seen his ERA climb to 3.42.

Kyle Lohse (6-1) was sharp while going eight innings to win his sixth straight decision as the Brewers ended a four-game losing streak. He gave up one run on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. Lohse's only loss of the season came against the Braves on April 1.

Six of Milwaukee's first seven batters reached base. Gomez singled, Scooter Gennett doubled and Jonathan Lucroy took a one-out walk before Reynolds' third career grand slam.

The Braves scored their only run off Lohse in the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Freddie Freeman and Justin Upton, who had three hits. Lohse did not allow another baserunner to reach second base. Atlanta's only other hits off Lohse were singles by Jason Heyward in the third and Upton in the seventh.

"It seemed like he hit all the quadrants of the strike zone: in, up, down and away with all his pitches," Gonzalez said.

"He mixed it well. He kept us off balance."

Freeman said the Braves' batters "were aggressive," but couldn't take advantage of opportunities.

"He made a lot of mistakes, we just popped them all up, it seemed like," Freeman said. "We just didn't get it done tonight."

Upton had a two-out single off Rodriguez in the ninth before Chris Johnson's third strikeout ended the game.

The Brewers took advantage of Santana's two-out walk to Lohse in the fourth. Gomez followed with a high homer, his 10th, over the center field wall.

Gomez circled the bases without incident, avoiding a repeat of an ugly melee on Sept. 25, 2013. Gomez was slow to leave the batter's box following a homer in that game at Turner Field, and he exchanged words with Braves infielders as he circled the bases and then was blocked at home plate by former Atlanta catcher Brian McCann. That led to a brawl that emptied both dugouts.

NOTES: Braves C Evan Gattis missed his second straight game with viral symptoms, but was available off the bench. ... Lohse improved to 4-0 in six career starts at Turner Field. ... The four-game series ends Thursday night with Braves RHP Aaron Harang facing Brewers RHP Matt Garza.